Free Cataract Surgeries of 3000 Poor Patients

Dear friends, I hope you are doing good.  

As part of Al-Mustafa Welfare Society's Eye Campaign, we organized a Free Eye Camp at the I.P.S SCHOOL, Dist Shangla Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. 

The objectives of this program are to provide:

• Free Cataract Surgeries to the poor and underprivileged people living in the urban and rural areas of Pakistan who don't have access to affordable eye care services. 
• Medical eye care services to eliminate avoidable blindness in underdeveloped areas of the country.
• And create awareness of eye care services for the elimination of blindness.

The District Shangla has the lowest human development index in the province and second-lowest in the country. 

We selected the campsite with the coordination of the local community and Al-Mustafa's local network. To facilitate the maximum number of beneficiaries, we need to reach out to the maximum number of people. For that purpose, we sought support from the Primary Eye Care Centers in the area, government health institutions, local administration, schools etc., for the advertisement and to make the campsite easily assessable for the majority of the patients in the community.

The Eye Camp was conducted for two days, from 28th to 29th of August, 2021. A total of 1475 patients was examined, and 115 Cataract Surgeries were performed during the camp. Patients who required eye care treatment other than cataract surgery were also given necessary treatment and medicines at the same site. All these services were provided entirely free of cost. 

All cataract patients were operated on using Small Incision Cataract Surgery procedure with Intraocular Lens (IOL) implantation after calculation of IOL power, using biometry. 

Operated patients were discharged with required medicines, a pair of sunglasses and counselling for postoperative care. Patients were found satisfied with a better vision. Postoperative follow-ups were done after one month by Ophthalmic Assistants of the respective primary eye care centres in the vicinity.

Our team for the Eye Camp consisted of 3 Ophthalmologists and 14 other technical staff. Local volunteers from schools and other social workers also participated. 

Apart from Eye Care Services, we also conducted Free Hepatitis-C investigations and the positive cases were referred for further treatment. 

Statistical Summary of Shangla Eye Camp:

1. Total Beneficiaries                                                          1475
2. Total Cataract Surgeries                                                115
3. Total Hepatitis-C Positive                                               10

We will continue to send you more campsite reports in the coming days.